Brake



Oct. 24, 1939. J, M, MILAN 2,117,312

BRAKE Filed July 9, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 V1 T$sgb %%zlara @m m days.

J. M. MILAN BRAKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1937 Oct. 24, 1939.

J. M. MILAN 2,177,372

BRAKE" Filed July 9. 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a brake and more particularly to a disk brake well adapted for use on automobiles and other motor vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide a brake 5 of sturdy construction and high efficiency, and which may be operated with but a minimum of effort.

A specification object is to provide a brake of the disk type in which the engagement between 10 the frictional surfaces is itself made use of in building up a'force which is efiective in bringing the frictional surfaces into yet closer engagement. In utilizing the frictional force due to the contact betweenthe friction surfaces for building up a greater pressure normal to the friction surfaces, a greater amount of braking action is obtained with but slight eflort on the part of the operator of the automobile or other vehicle.

A further object is to provide a disk type brake 2 employing a flexible disk having frictional surfaces and being resiliently held out of contact with the plates when the mechanism is not actuated for braking action.

Yet another object is .to provide such abrake 25 having improved actuating mechanism for utilizing the movement of a brake rod or cable for operating the brake. Other objects will be apparent as the specification proceeds.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is 30 illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved brake asapplied to the right front wheel of a vehicle; Figure 2, .a detail elevational view of 35 the auxiliary housing attached to the inside of the backing plate; Figure 3, a plan sectional view of the housing as shown n Figure 2, and illustrating the brake actuating mechanism; Figure 4, a broken side' elevational view of the structure 40 shown in' Figure 1; Figure. 5, a detail sectional view showing one of the links connecting the pres-. sure plate with the backing plate, the section beingtaken as indicated at line 5 of Figure 4; Figure 6, a sectional view in elevation of a modified form of 45 the invention; Figure 7, a detail sectional view taken as indicated at line I of Figure 6; and Figure 8, a detail sectional-view illustrating the links connection with any common form of wheel and axle assembly such as the one illustrated in which the wheel I0 is rotatably mounted on the axle II by the use of roller bearings l2.v This wheel and axle assembly in itself forms no part of the inven- 5 tion, and is here shown only to illustrate a particular function .of the improved brake.

The backing plate A may be considered the stationary plate and may bemounted to the vehicle in any suitable way. In the illustration 10 given this plate is fixedly secured with the base I3 of axle II. On its outside and near its outer periphery backing plate A provides the annular braking surface H which is preferably smooth and in a single plane.

The pressure plate B comprises an annular piece having its outer peripheral edge preferably coextensive with the outer peripheral edge of surface H on backing plate A. Plate B is supported and spaced from plate A by means of the links I5 which at their one ends are pivotally secured between lugs IS on plate A, and which at their other ends are pivotally secured between lugs I! on plate B. In the illustration given three such links are shown, but any number may be used as may be desired. The. links 15 are angularly disposed with respect to the plates, and the ends of the links connected with lugs 11 of the pressure plate B are disposed farther forward in the direction of forward rotation of wheel I0,

The disk C, annular in form, extends between plate A and plate B, and comprises a flexible metal member 30 which has on its one side the friction ring 2!; providing a friction ,surface adjacent braking surface ll of backing plate A, and has on its other side the friction ring 22 providing a friction surface adjacent the braking surface 23 on pressure plate B. At spaced intervals about the periphery of the flexible metal member 30 are the attachment ears 24 extending beyond the general circular periphery of the disk.

Wheel bolts 25 secured in wheel I0 have their inward ends extending through apertures in cars 24 and are fixedly secured with disk C by the nuts 26 on each side of ears 24. The member 30 of disk C should be of some flexible resilient material, so that when pressure plate B is moved toward the backing plate A member 30 will yield to allow-the friction ring 2| to be brought into contact with braking surface H. To aid in this function each of ears 24. is provided with a crimped portion 21. It is also necessary that member 30 be sumciently resilient to return the rotatable disk C to the position shown in Figure 1, moving ring 2| free from contact with braking surface l4 when pressure plate B is returned to normal spaced position.

The means D for moving the pressure plate B toward the backing plate A comprises a yoke lever 40 of U-shaped form which has its lower ends pivoted under bearing 28 of the bracket pins 25 which are fixedly mounted on the backing plate A. As clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the bracket pins 29 are disposed slightly below the middle of the brake. Mounted at diametrically opposite points on the pressure plate B are the rollers 3| which bear against the arms of yoke lever 40, and when actuated by this lever serve to move plate B inwardly toward backing plate A.

The actuating mechanism for operating yoke lever 40 includes a lever 32 which is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis in the auxiliary housing 33 carried by the backing plate A. As shown more clearly in Figure 3 of the drawings. this lever is connected by means of links 3! and 35 with the top portion of yoke lever 40. The pivotal connection between links 34 and 35 allows the link 34 to extend horizontally through the opening 36 in backing plate A at all positions of the yoke lever.

The housing 33 is preferably of semi-cylindrical form having its straight wall secured to the backing palte A by means of screws 31 or any other suitable means. The curved wall of the housing is preferably provided with an opening 33 in which is mounted a wall portion 33 arranged to slide along this opening. A cable 39 extends through the opening 38 of the movable portion 33 and has its end pivotally connected with the end of the lever 32. This construction is such that when cable 39 is pulled to move lever 32 about its pivot the yoke lever 49 is moved inwardly at the top to bring the mechanism into braking position.

Illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 of the drawings is a modified form of my improved brake. This form of the brake is shown in connection with a wheel 59mounted on an axle 5|. Similar to the preferred embodiment, this construction includes a backing plate A fixedly secured with axle 5|, and a pressure plate B mounted in spaced relation to the plate A. The actuating mechanism D is substantially identical with mechanism D already described in connection with the preferred embodiment.

The rotatable disk means C includes a pair of disks 52 and 53 which have their peripheral edges extending beyond the outer edge of pressure plate B and receive within their peripheral slots 54 the inner end portions of wheel bolts 35. In this way the disks i2 and 53 are supported be.- tween plates A and B and are caused to rotate with wheel 53. Disposed between disks 521 and 33 is an annular middle disk 56 which is supported and connected with plates A and B by means of pairs of links 31. Each pair of links 5! includes a link 51' which is pivotally connected at its rearward, end with lug "on backing plate A, and at its forward end with a lug 39' of middle disk 53. Another link il has its rearward end pivotally connected with lug 33 on pressure plate B, and has its forward end pivotally connected with link II- to the lug 39 on middle disk I. Anynumberofsuchlinkpairsllmaybeused as may be desired.

For maintaining plates A and B normally apart and out of contact with rotatable disks 52 and 53, I provide the springs 3| which at their one ends are connected with lugs 53 of the middle disk I and at their other ends are connected with lugs 92 protruding from backing A.

the yoke lever 40 to move inwardly. In moving inwardly yoke lever 40 pivots about the bearing 28 of the bracket pins 29 and presses against the rollers 3| causing the pressure plate Bto move inwardly.

When surface 23 of the pressure plate comes into frictional contact with friction ring 22 of the rotatable disk C which is here assumed to be in rotation, a frictional force is developed which tends to urge the pressure plate B to rotate along the disk C. Pressure plate B, being connected to backing plate A by the links I5, is not permitted to rotate, but may move slightly in an angular direction. However, in order for this slight angular movement to take place, links l5 must move toward alignment with the plane of rotation, bringing plates A and B toward each other against the tension of springs l3. Thus, when the operator has exerted suflicient eflort to bring the pressure plate B into frictional contact with the rotating disk to produce, a frictional force effective for braking action, this frictional force is utilized by link connections l5 to press plates A and B yet moretightly against the rotating disk C, producing a greater force normal to the friction surfaces, and intensifying or building up the resulting braking action.

This function of the links l5 may be more clearly understood by reference to lilgure 5 of the drawings in which the arrow ll indicates the normal forward direction of rotation of the rotatable disk C. As the pressure plate B comes into contact with the friction ring 22 of the rotating disk C, a force is built up which tends to move plate B in the direction of arrow 10. A component of this force is effective in urging the .plate B toward the backing plate A against the tension of spring It. It is this component which is efiective in building up or intensifying the braking action. In such an arrangement where the force effective in producing braking action is as to bring the friction ring 2| into frictional contact with the braking surface ll on plate A. This movement is permitted because of the flexibility of. the disk. member 33, and is aided by the crimped portions 2l=.adjacent the points of attachment of cars 24 with the wheel bolts 25. It

will'be seen that wheel is mounted at fixed spacing from backing plate A, and in order for the disk C to move into contact with plate A, this disk must flex.

when the operator releases thetension on cable 39 so as to allow the yoke lever 43 to move outwardly, the tension in spring I! is effective in pulling the links I! back into their ori in l position and increasing the spacing between platesAandBsoastomovetheseplatesout of contact with the rotatable disk 0. when the lateral pressure exerted by pressure plate B against the rotatable disk C is relieved, the body portion of disk C carrying the friction rings 2| and 22 will move back to its original position due to the resiliency of the flexible 'member 30, causing the friction ring 2| to move out of contact with the braking surface I4.

The rollers 3| which bear against .the yoke lever 40 play an important part in permitting the building up of a braking force which was described above. As previously stated, when the pressure plate B comes into contact with the rotating disk C, plate B moves inwardly toward plate A and also moves a slight distance in an angular direction. Yoke lever 40, bearing upon bracket pin 29 secured to the plate A, is not adapted even for slight angular movement, and the rollers 3| permit plate B to move angularly with respect to the yoke lever, enabling relative movement of the plates. At the same time, provision of rollers 3| prevents binding and helps to make a free working mechanism.

The brake actuating mechanism herein described is especially advantageous when used in connection with the front or steering wheel of the vehicle. When making turns the. front wheel and also backing plate A is turned to a different angle with the vehicle, and in ordinary constructions turning of the front wheel causes a variation in the braking force applied at this wheel. Also, it will be observed that the force applied to pull yoke lever 40 inwardly.is always in a direction substantially perpendicular with or normal to plate A. Such feature also eliminates binding and makes for uniform braking action.

As the front wheel is turned for steering the vehicle and as the angle which cable 39 makes with the plate A is changed, the movable piece 30 of the auxiliary housing 33 slides along the opening 33 In this way the cable 39 while being adequately housed is not bent or otherwise deformed upon the turning of the front wheel.

In the operation of the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 8, the yoke lever 40 is moved inwardly to move pressure plate .8 toward backing plate A in the same manner as set forth in connection with the embodiment first described. When pressure plate B has moved inwardly so as to bring the middle disk 55 into frictional contact with the rotatable disks 52 and 53, a building-up or self-serving action takes place which is similar in many respects with that described in connection with the otherv embodiment of the invention. The frictional force due to contact of disks 52 and 53 with middle disk 56 tends to carry this middle disk 56 in the direction of rotation of wheel 50 and rotating disk This force tending to move middle plate 56 in an angular direction is utilized by brake link pairs 51 to pull plates A and B together, increasing the force normal to the friction surfaces and intensifying the resultant braking action.

In addition, the frictional force due to contact with the rotatable disks tends to urge the pressure plates A in the direction of wheel rotation, and this tendency also contributes in the building-up of the braking action.

When the operator releases the brake allowing yoke\ lever 48 to move outwardly to normal position, spring 6| pulls the forward ends of links 51* and 51- in a rearward direction, causing the plates to move apart and free the friction surfaces. The building-up or self-serving action of this double link construction is perhaps more easily understood by reference to Figure 8 in.

which the direction of forward rotation of the disks 52 and 53 is indicated by arrows 15.

In the above explanation of the operation in connection with'both of the embodiments described, it has been assumed that the wheel to which the rotatable disks. were attached was rotating in a normal forward direction. The building up or intensifying action referred to will take place only when the rotatable disks rotate in this forward direction. With the rotatable disks moving in a reverse direction, the action of the links in each of the embodiments will be such as to diminish slightly the pressure normal'to the friction surfaces and so will require a relatively greater effort on the part of the operator to obtain a certain braking action. However, in the usual operation of vehicles the braking action is most frequently desired when the vehicle is moving forwardly, and when the vehicle is moved rearwardly very low speeds are used and not so much braking force is required.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, it will.be clear that if links l are made relatively longer so that at the same spacing of the plate the links will be more nearly aligned with the plane of rotation of disk C, although the force tending to move pressure plate B angularly in the direction of rotation be the same, the component of this force which is effective for moving the pressure plate toward the backing plate will be relatively less. Thus, by increasing the length of links l5,

the tendency to build up or intensify. the braking action will be diminished, and by shortening these links such action will be increased. From this it is apparent that by making links 51 and 51 of the modification longer the tendency to build up braking action will be diminished, and

that by shortening these links the building up tendency may be increased.

While I have shown and described only specific embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention. The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended'claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A brake of the character set forth comprising a backing plate, a pressure plate spaced from said plate, a pair of rotatable disks-between said plates, a middle disk between said rotatable disks, means for moving said pressure plate toward said backing plate to bring said rotatable disks into contact with said middle disk, and a pair of links pivotally connected at their one ends with said middle plate, one of said links being pivotally connected at its other end withsaid backing plate and the other of said links being pivotally connected at its other end with said pressure plate, said links being adapted upon rotation of said rotatable disks in one direction and upon frictional contact between said middle disk and said rotatable disks to urge said pressure plate toward said backing plate.

2. A brake as set forth in claim l-and including means associated with said links for maintaining said plates in spaced relation with said middle disk and out of contact with said rotatable plates except when said first-mentioned means is operated. v

3. A brake of the character set forth comp ising a backing plate, a pressure plate spaced from said plate, a rotatable annular disk suspended between said plates from a plurality of studs secured to the vehicle wheel and to the outer periphery of said disk, means disposed within said annular disk for moving said pressure plate by frictional contact between said rotatable disk and said plates, and means for moving said pressure plate toward said backing plate as said angular movement of said pressure plate takes place.

4. In a brake mechanism having a backing plate, av movable plate, a friction disk interposed between said backing plate and said movable plate, and a lever for moving said movable plate toward said backing plate, lever actuating mechanism including an actuating lever pivoted about an axis fixed with respect to said backing plate, connecting means attached to one end of said. ac-

tuating lever, and link means extending through an opening in said backing plate, said link means being connected at its one-end with said actuating lever and being-connected at its other end with said first-mentioned lever, and said link means comprising two parts which are pivotally connected about an axis transverse with said firstmentioned axis. I

5. In apparatus of the character set forth having a backing plate, a movable plate, a friction disk interposed between said backing plate and said movable plate, and a lever for moving said movable plate towards said backing plate, the combination of a. housing secured to said backing plate, an actuating lever pivotaly carried within said housing, link means connecting said actuating lever with said first-mentioned lever, and connecting means extending through an opening in said housing and having its end secured with an end of said actuating lever, said housing having a stationary portion and a movable portion, and said connecting means including a cable ex tending through an opening in said movable portion.

6. A brake of the character set forthcomprising a. backing plate, a presure plate spaced from said plate, a pair of rotatable disks between said plates, a middle disk between said rotatable disks, means for moving said pressure plate toward said backing plate to bring said rotatable disk into contact with said middle disk, and connecting means between said backing plate, pressure plate and middle disk, said connecting means being adapted upon rotation of said rotatable disks in one direction and upon frictional contact between said middle disk and said rotatable disks to urge said pressure plate toward said backing plate.

7. A brake of the class set forth comprising a backing plate, a pressure plate spaced from said backing plate, a rotatable disk, a friction disk adapted to engage said rotatable disk, means for moving said pressupe plate toward said backing plate to bring said'rotatable disk into frictional contact with said friction disk, and connecting means between said backing plate, pressure plate and said friction disk, said-connecting means be ing adapted uponrotation of said rotatable disk in one direction and upon frictional contact between said friction disk and said rotatable disk to urge said pressure plate toward said backing plate.

8. A brake of the class set forth comprising a backing plate, a pressure plate spaced from said backing plate, a pair of rotatable disks between said plates, a middle disk between said rotatable disks, means for moving said pressure plate toward said backing plate to bring said rotatable disks into contact with said middle disk, and a plurality of pivotally mounted members connecting said backing plate, pressure plate and middle disk, said connecting members being adapted upon rotation of said rotatable disks in one direction and upon frictional contact between said middle disk and said rotatable disks to urge said pressure plate toward said backing plate.

9. A brake of the character set forth comprising a. backing plate, a pressure plate spaced from said plate, a rotatable annular disk driven by the vehicle wheel and suspended between said plates from a plurality of points on its outer periphery, means disposed within said annular disk for moving said pressure plate in a direction toward said backing plate, said means including a yoke lever pivotally mounted on said backing platev and a bearing member carried on said pressure plate and bearing against said yoke lever, said pressure plate being angularly movable through actuation by frictional forces set up by frictional contact between said rotatable disk and said plates, and means for moving said pressure plate toward said backing plate as said angular movement of said pressure plate takes place.

JOSEPH M. IMILAN. 

